Jerusalem

Democratic party heads rammed through the revised platform, which includes updated pro-Israel language and the mention of God, against the clear wishes of those voting at the convention in Charlotte. Here's video of the chaos:

The vote to adopt the new platform requires two-thirds. It's pretty clear that even after asking for multiple votes, two-thirds of the vote was not received. The revised platform was adopted anyway.

Senator Chuck Schumer does not know President Obama's position on Jerusalem:

Schumer is asked about Obama's position after Democrats removed this pro-Israel language from this year's party platform: "Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."

CNN reports on the reason this year's Democratic platform is stripped of certain pro-Israel language: The Democratic National Committee is "simply following what the Obama administration's policy is. That the White House said several months ago that the status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in the final status negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians and that is why that is not in the platform as it was in 2008."

The Emergency Committee for Israel has released its latest ad, anchored by this line: "Next year ... President Mitt Romney in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel." Watch here:

"What's the capital of Israel?," ECI asks in a press release accompanying the ad. "President Obama once knew. In 2008 he declared that 'Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided.'"

JerusalemMitt Romney today strongly defended Israel’s right to act against the threat of an Iranian nuclear attack. And, while avoiding direct criticism of President Obama, he found a way to disagree with Obama’s approach to dealing with Israel.

The disagreement was subtle but clear. In a meeting with Jewish leaders in 2009, the president insisted the United States would have more influence with Arab countries in the Middle East if he put some “daylight,” at least diplomatically, between the United States and Israel.

THE WEEKLY STANDARD has been able to confirm reports that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to be in Israel on Sunday, July 29. That day coincides on the Jewish calendar with the observance of the ninth day of the month of Av—Tisha B’Av, the fast day that commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem.

The State Department isn't sure whether Jerusalem is the capital city of the state of Israel. In fact, yesterday, spokesman Victoria Nuland was asked, "What is the capital of Israel?" She would not say.

The first flotilla in 2010 ended in a bloodbath on the high seas, when the Israeli navy intercepted Islamists and activists seeking to challenge Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. The second flotilla fizzled, when international lawyers prevented a second round of boats from embarking on another ill-fated mission in 2011.

Israel was one of the first nations to recognize and welcome as a new nation the Republic of South Sudan on July 9, 2011. It was not surprising then, that South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayaardit recently chose Israel for one of his first presidential visits.